China will continue to lead the global propylene capacity growth with highest planned capacity additions over the next nine years, according to GlobalData. Asia and the Middle East will drive most of the global market growth with the majority of the planned and announced plants slated to come online in both these regions over the outlook period.

Within Asia, China is forecast to possess a total capacity of about 10 mtpa by 2022 with 31 planned and announced propylene plants. Capital expenditure (capex) for these plants will be $5.63 billion. Major capacity additions will be from Oriental Energy, followed by Zhejiang Petrochemical.

Dayanand Kharade, petrochemicals project manager at GlobalData, said: "China will dominate the global propylene market in the mid-term with both the biggest number of new projects and the largest absolute capacity expansion driven by economic growth. The country is forecast to account for 65% of the Asian capacity addition and 39% of the global capacity addition during the outlook period.

"The global propylene industry will witness expansion of coal-based propylene capacity with the construction of many MTP plants in China. Globally there are currently 19 MTP plants, most of which are situated in China, which use methanol feedstock derived from domestically available coal. Since China has one of the largest coal reserves in the world, producers can readily obtain coal for propylene production. The availability of methanol production units also creates an environment conducive to the use of MTP plants. This has encouraged potential investors to invest in MTP plants and has resulted in many new announcements of planned propylene plants. It is forecast that China will build 13 more MTP plants in the next five years."

In the Middle East, Iran has 14 planned and announced propylene plants with total capacity of around 2.3 mtpa. They are expected to commence operations by 2024. Capex for these plants totals $2.24 billion over the next eight years. Major capacity additions will be from The National Petrochemical Company.

In the former Soviet Union, most propylene capacity additions will be in Russia, which is forecast to have a capacity of roughly 1.2 mtpa by 2022. Capex for these plants totals US$1.07bn. Far East Petrochemical Company and Sibur Holding are the top companies accounting for the major capacity additions in Russia.

In North America, the U.S. is forecast to spend $900 million on three planned and announced propylene plants, which will have a capacity of approximately 1.2 mtpa, over the next eight years. Major capacity additions will be from Formosa Plastics Group.

In South America, Bolivia tops with planned and announced propylene capacity additions of around 0.4 mtpa by 2021. Capex for these plants totals $340 million. In Africa, Egypt plans to spend $1.3 billion and add capacity of around 1.4 mtpa, which is expected to come on-stream by 2021.

In Europe, Belgium plans to spend $710 million on capacity addition of 0.7 mtpa, which is expected to come on-stream by 2021.